Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: To assess improvement in glycemic control in those diabetic patients who have received structured education in diabetes in our Day Hospital.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out in which 42 diabetic patients who had attended to educational courses in 1 year were included, determining the age of the patient, type of Diabetes, score obtained in the questionnaires at the beginning and end of the course, as well as HbA1c before, at 6 months and at 12 months after the courses.

Results: Of the 42 patients, 25 were diabetic type 1 and 17 diabetic type 2. Mean age 43.64±14.36 years (Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1): 36.8±12.17 years; Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2): 53.7±11.2 years). Mean HbA1c before the course was 9.14±2% (DM1: 8.99±1.74%, DM2: 9.36±2.38%). Mean of HbA1c at 6 months of the course was 8.06±1.51%. (DM1: 8.09±1.45%, DM2: 8.03±1.64%). A reduction of HbA1c of 1.08±1.87% (P <0.0001) was obtained. In the DM1 group the mean reduction of HbA1c was 0.9±1.79% (P=0.014) whereas in the DM2 group it was 1.34±2% (P=0.008). Of the 42 diabetic patients in the sample, HbA1c values were determined at 12 months in 27 of them (17 DM1 and 10 DM2). HbA1c at baseline in this group was 9.17±2.29%; At 6 months 8.13±1.58% (P=0.007) and at a year 8.05±1.25% (P=0.007). In DM1 at the beginning 8.64±1.47%, at 6 months 7.93±1.48% and at 12 months 8.06±1.1%. In DM2 at baseline, 10.07±2.72%, at 6 months 8.48±1.75 (P=0.019), at 12 months 8.02±1.78% (P=0.009).

Conclusions: Attending courses in Diabetes Education significantly improved glycemic control in all our patients. The type 2 diabetic group showed the greatest improvement in glycemic control, obtaining even greater reduction of HbA1c at one year of the Education course. This is probably because it is the group that most benefits from lifestyle modification.